Folding crate.



G. B. ONEAL & J. A. WANAMAKER.

FOLDING GRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JAILBI, 1914.

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FOLDING cana- APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1914- 7 1,125,]. 5. Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

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CHARLES E. ONEAL AND JOSEPH A. WANAMAKEB, OF FINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS.

FOLDING CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 19, 1915.

Application filed January 31, 1914. Serial No. 815,754..

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CHARLES E. ONEAL and JOSEPH A. 'WANAMAKER, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Pine Bluff, in the county of Jefferson and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a folding crate and has special reference to crates which are adapted to be used in shipping sewing machines whereby the crate may be set-up for receiving the article and may be easily folded for shipment after the article has been re moved.

The principal object of the invention is the production of a simple and efiicient bracing and locking means whereby the crate will be held in a set-up position for shipping a sewing machine without danger of the crate becoming folded during the .trip, thus preventing injury to the article which is being shipped.

With these and other objects this invention consists of certain novel combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the folding crate showing the same in a set-up position. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the crate showing the same in a folded position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the crate showing the same in a folded position. Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken through the crate, showing the same in a set-up position. Fig. 5 is a detailed elevation of a portion of one end of the crate showing the locking member in position. Fi 6 is a detailed top plan view of a portion of the crate, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional View of a portion of the locking member of the crate.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals 1 indicates a rectangular base a portion of which is formed of members which are L-shaped in cross section. The forward end of this base 1, however, is connected by the flat strip 2. The L-shaped stand- 4 are pivotally secured to the remaining corners of the base 1. The L-shaped standards 3 are pivotally secured to the base 1 by means of the angularly extending ends 5 of the pivotally mounted flat brace 6. By referring to Fig. 4 it may be seen that the lower ends of the standards 3 extend to a point adjacent the upper edge of the base 1 as shown at 7, while the portions of the standards adjacent the end 7 extend down so as to engage the angularly bent end 5 of the brace 6. A diagonal fixed brace 8 is also secured to the standards 3 so as to take up any lateral strain upon the standards 8.

A top is pivotally connected to the standards 8 and comprise the T-shaped sides 9 and end 10. It will, of course, be seen that the sides 9 and the ends 10 and 11 are fixedly secured together so as to form a substan tially one-piece structure. One end of the crate is provided with the L-shaped posts 12 and 13. These posts 12 and 13 are pivotally secured to the base 1 by means of the pivots 14. It should also be noted that these pivot members 14 act as pivots for the uprights 4. The end 11 is provided with the angularly bent lips 15 which are fixedly secured to the posts 12 and 13, and these posts 12 and 13 are also connected together by the diagonal brace 16. In this manner it will be seen that by swinging the end 11 downwardly the end of the crate will be opened so as to allow a machine to be placed within the interior thereof. As this crate is used in shipping sewing machines it will be seen that the construction of the members of the base 1 will prevent any side movement of the machine while the braces 8 and 16 will also limit the longitudinal movement of the machine within the crate.

In order to hold this crate in a set-up position the sides 9 are provided with the notches 17 which are formed in alinement with each other. The pivoted brace 6 is provided with the integrally rolled portion 18 connecting the side portions of the same. This rolled portion 18 fits within the notches 17 formed in the sides 9. As the brace 6 is secured to the base 1 and rests within the notches 17, any danger of the crate folding longitudinally will be eliminated. In order to hold this rolled portion 18 within the notches 17 there is provided a locking member having a plurality of parallel strands 19 terminating in the flared outer ends 20. The outer ends 20 are bent to form the pivots 21 for holding the standards 3 in pivotal engagement with the sides 9 of the top. Adjacent the opposite end of the locking member there is formed the notches as indicated at 22 which fit over the rolled portion 18 of the pivotal brace 6. The end 11 is provided with the longitudinal slot 22 having the pockets 23. The parallel strands 19 also terminate in an enlarged head 2%. which passes through the slot 22, while the strands 19 rest within the pockets 23. This enlarged head 24; will rest upon the end 11 while the lip 25 will fit between the strands 19 for preventing the end 11 from swinging over the head 24 whereby the locking member will be held in firm engagement with the rolled portion 18 by the pivot brace 6, and will in this manner retain the crate in a set-up position.

By means of the pivotal brace 6 and the locking member comprising the strands 19, it will be seen that the longitudinal folding action of the crate will be prevented, while the braces 8 and 16 and the L-shaped posts 8, 12 and 13 of the crate will prevent or take up any lateral strain upon the crate whereby a machine may be easily shipped without danger of injuring the same, after which the crate may be easily folded for returning the same.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A folding crate comprising a base and a top, said base and top formed of angular construction for retaining an article, standards pivotally connected to said base and top, said top provided with alined notches, a brace pivotally secured to said bottom, said brace provided at its upper portion with a rolled portion fitting in said notches for holding said crate in a set-up position, a locking member comprising a plurality of parallel strands and terminating at one end in flared pivot portions for holding a plurality of said standards in pivotal engagement with said top, said parallel strands provided with notches adapted to receive the rolled portions of said pivotally mounted braces whereby said brace will be held in firm engagement with said top for holding said crate in a set-up position.

2. A folding crate comprising a base and a top, standards pivotally securing said base and top together, said crate also provided with an end adapted to swing independent of the remaining portions of the crate, a pivotally mounted brace secured to said base and engaging said top for holding said crate in a set-up position, a locking member pivotally secured to said top and provided with notched portions adapted to receive said pivotally mounted brace, the free end portion of said crate provided with a longitudinal slot and with pockets communicating with said slot, said locking member provided with an enlarged head passing through said slot, said locking member adapted to rest within the pockets formed adjacent said slot whereby said locking member will be held in firm engagement with said base for holding said crate in a setup position.

3. In a crate of the class described the combination. with a base and a top, means pivotally secured to said base and top whereby the crate may be swung to a set up po sition or to a closed position, a U-shaped brace pivotally secured to said base and being adapted to be swung into engagement with said top, and a locking member pivotally secured to said top and passing over the top of said U-shaped brace for holding said brace in engagement with said top for holding the crate in a set-up position.

In a folding crate, the combination with a base, and a top, means pivotally secured to said base and top at the corners thereof for allowing the crate to be set up or folded to a closed position, said top provided with a plurality of alined notches, a U-shaped brace pivotally secured to said base and being adapted to be swung so as to rest within the notches formed in said top for holding the crate in a set-up position and a locking member pivotally secured to said top and passing over said U-shaped brace for holding the brace in engagement with said top, and means for holding said locking member against accidental pivotal movement. v

5. In a folding crate, the combination with a base, and a top, means pivotally secured to the ends of said base and to said top for allowing the crate to be swung to a set-up position or to a closed position, a iii-shaped brace pivotally secured to said base, said brace being adapted to be swung so as to engage the top of said crate whereby said crate will be held in a set-up position, and a locking member pivotally secured to said top and passing across the upper portion of said U-shaped brace whereby the brace will be prevented from accidentally disengaging said top, said crate provided with a folding end, said end provided with a horizontally extending slot, the free end of said locking member passing through said slot whereby said locking member will be held from accidentally disengaging said U-shaped brace.

6. In a folding crate the combination with a base and a top, standards pivotally secured to the corners of said base and said top whereby the crate may be folded to a set-up or to a closed position, a U-shaped brace carried by said crate and fitting upon the outer portion thereof, said brace being adapted to be swung over the outer portions of said crate and then engage said crate whereby said crate will be held in a setup position, a locking member pivotally secured adjacent the outer portions of said crate and passing over said U-shaped brace,

said crate provided With a folding end, said end provided with a horizontal slot, said locking member extending through said slot, whereby said brace will be positively retained in position, said brace and locking member being positioned upon the outer portions of said crate so as to allou free space Within the interior of the crate.

In testimony Wli'ereof We hereunto aifix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses. 15

CHARLES E. ONEAL. J OSEPH A. WVANAMAKER;

Vitnesses as to the signature of Charles E. ONeal:

JAs. A. HUDRoN, W. C. REYNOLDS. "Witnesses as to the signature of Joseph A. Wanamaker:

ARTHUR COOPER, ROBERT PRATHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

